COEUR d’ALENE — Master Class Big Band will serve up some swinging tunes in Coeur d'Alene City Park on Sunday, then follow the main course with something sweet.

Handshake Productions' Chris Guggemos, who was diagnosed with cancer in April, will join the band on stage for the last verse of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" as he sends off the 2016 Summer Concert Series season and prepares to go into surgery Sept. 22.

"I just want to personally say 'thank you' to all the people for their support, and I wanted to put a good spin on ‘it’s a wonderful life,’” he said. "I feel very grateful and thankful for the community and my family and my friends."

Guggemos reported the July 24 benefit concert in City Park was a success; it brought in about $4,500 to help with his medical expenses and lost income, thanks to the generosity of the Kelly Hughes Band and the big-hearted audience members.

“All I was hoping to do was sell a bunch of CDs,” he said, referring to his recently released album, “One Short of A Dozen.”

“The Kelly Hughes band was playing, so I introduced them and said, ‘CDs for sale,’ and before Kelly sings the first song he says, ‘I’m going to sell my CDs on the break and all the proceeds go to Chris.’”

Guggemos said that since his diagnosis, the community has been very encouraging for him. He expects his recovery time to be six to eight months.

“I meet a lot of cancer survivors who come talk to me and they look me straight in the eye, and say, ‘We survived and you will survive,’” he said. "I will be one of the many survivors."

While Guggemos is "under the radar" in recovery mode, his "Dream Team" of community leaders will help manage the 2017 sponsorships to ensure that the free, family-friendly shows go on without a hitch.

Coeur d'Alene City Councilwoman Kiki Miller is leading this Dream Team. Aside from her work on city council, she has been active in the community for 30 years and wants to help a friend who is also active in building something good for the community.

"It's about anyone who would need a hand," Miller said. "When it's time to step up for somebody who's been so supportive of the community, you just do."

Miller said the Dream Team will give Guggemos a chance to recover and the ability to come back to the Summer Concert Series next year without all the stress of catching up.

"I'm happy that Chris is very sound and based in his faith," Miller said. "He has his heart in the right place, I’m just happy to be a friend and lend a hand to make this piece of his journey of life a little easier."

The Summer Concert Series finale is Sunday in City Park from 1-4 p.m.